Special Needs Scholarship SB10

The 2026-2027 Application is open May 1-May 30, 2026. 

SY27 RCPS Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program Application (SB10) – Fill out form

As the parent/guardian of a student who receives special education services in our district, we want to let you know about your options to exercise public and private school choice. Under a state law passed by the Georgia State Legislature in 2007, parents/guardians of a student who receives special education services may choose to transfer their child to another public school or private school in Georgia.

In order for a student to qualify for this scholarship, 1) the parent/guardian has been a Georgia resident for at least one year and currently resides within Georgia; 2) the student meets Georgia eligibility criteria for one or more disability areas; and 3) the student has spent the prior year in attendance at a Georgia public school and shall have had an Individual Education Program (IEP) written by the school in accordance with federal and state laws and regulations. Public School Choice Options A parent can request a transfer to another public school within their school system as long as there is available space at that school and the school has a program with the services agreed to in the student’s existing IEP (Grades K – 12). Each application is considered individually, and approvals will not include future or current sibling enrollment. Excessive absences and/or tardies may jeopardize this approval. If the parent chooses this option, then the parent shall be responsible for transportation to the school. Applications will be accepted through May 31, 2026.

Nonresident District Transfer: Parents may request a transfer to a school in another district if there is available space and the system and school has a program with the services agreed to in the student’s existing IEP, and if that school system accepts out of county requests. The district must agree to accept the student – the Rockdale County Public Schools has nothing to do with the acceptance. If the parent chooses this option and the district accepts the child, then the parent shall be responsible for transportation to a school in the nonresident district.

State Schools: Parents may also request a transfer to one of the state schools for the deaf and/or blind operated by the State Board of Education. Acceptance to a state school will depend on if that setting is appropriate for the student’s needs. If the parent chooses this option, then the parent shall be responsible for transportation to the state school. Please contact the Georgia Department of Education at http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/ for more information about transferring to a State School.

Private School Choice Option: If you are interested in transferring your child to a private school in Georgia, you may be able to take advantage of a Georgia Special Needs Scholarship for Private Schools, which is overseen through the Georgia DOE. These scholarships provide funding that can be used to offset tuition cost at participating private schools in the State of Georgia. For more information on the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship and the parent application process, please visit the Georgia Department of Education’s website at http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/ - RCPS neither has information regarding private school eligibility nor handles any applications regarding the private school option.

Please send any questions to LearningSupportRCPS@rockdale.k12.ga.us.